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GENTRY (KFSM) – A Gentry man is behind bars after deputies say he broke into the Living Hope Assembly church, stole equipment and then wrote an apology letter, authorities say.

Jose McGuire, 26, was arrested after deputies took a burglary report on July 13. Several guitars were stolen, along with other musical equipment, according to probable a cause report.

Deputies located one of the stolen items, a Fender amp sold by McGuire at a pawn shop, the report states.

Speaking to the pawn shop owner, deputies confirmed that McGuire had a reputation for theft. The amp was valued at $500, according to the report.

During an interview later, McGuire confessed to having another girl who wasn’t involved in the theft pawn a guitar for him (valued at $2,500), the report states.

McGuire told deputies that he broke into the church through a door and took musical equipment from the stage. He said he acted alone and used a friend’s vehicle during the theft, according to the report.

He also told deputies that he wrote an apology letter to the church and provided the location of the stolen property, the report states.

McGuire was booked into the Washington County Detention Center on July 29, and he has a $3,500 bond, according to the jail’s intake report.

He faces charges of commercial burglary and theft of property, the intake report states.